Tag Archives: Top Accredited Medical Assistant Courses Antelope CA 95843

Medical Assistant Course Antelope CA

How to Choose a Medical Assistant Training Program near Antelope California

Antelope CA medical assistant checking pulseOnce you have made a decision to become a part of the gratifying field of healthcare and enroll in a medical assistant school near Antelope CA, it’s time to select a school that will furnish the right training. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you subsequently enroll in the best one? Most potential students begin by evaluating the medical assistant schools that are nearest to their homes and then lean toward those that have the most affordable tuition. While location and cost are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are important factors as well. You might decide to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an option also (more about that later). The bottom line is that before you select a program you must carry out your due diligence and compare all pertinent qualifications of the colleges you are evaluating. And to help you with that task, we have provided some questions that you should ask all of the colleges on your “maybe” list. But before we start that review, let’s talk a little bit about the responsibilities of a medical assistant and the kind of training and credentials that are available.

The Job of a Medical Assistant

medical assistant with Antelope CA nursing home patientThe role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as challenging. Primarily their duty is ensure that the Antelope CA clinics, hospitals and other medical care facilities where they work run efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of an administrative assistant, a clinical assistant, or in smaller facilities both. They are tasked with giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical practitioners but may also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. Some of the possible duties of a medical assistant include:

  • Filling out insurance forms and submitting claims
  • Setting and verifying appointments
  • Taking vital signs and weighing patients
  • Collecting blood and other tissue and fluid specimens
  • Preparing instruments and rooms for physicians
  • Giving basic support during examinations and procedures

While medical assistants may carry out almost any duty they are qualified to under California law, some choose to specialize in a specific area and obtain certification. Two of the options offered are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) provided by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Programs

Unlike most other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, many Antelope CA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training school (more on accreditation later ) that are certified. There are basically two options offered for a formal education. The first and shortest route to becoming a medical assistant is to acquire a certificate or diploma. These programs normally take about 1 year to complete, some as little as six to nine months. They are developed to teach the fundamentals of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second alternative is to obtain an Associate Degree, which are normally two year programs offered at community and junior colleges in addition to technical and vocational schools. They are more extensive in nature than the diploma or certificate programs, and include general education courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a clinical element involving an internship with a local healthcare practice. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a related field.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

woman attending medical assistant school online in Antelope CAThere are a number of accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent choice for those who may not have the time to go to classes on campus but could fit them in if accessible at home. This is a particularly good alternative for students who continue to work full time while pursuing their certificate or degree. As an extra benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Ancillary expenses including those for textbooks, commuting and school supplies can be minimized also. Just bear in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be satisfied, but they can usually be performed in Antelope CA area healthcare facilities. If you can earn a degree without the rigid structure of participating in supervised classes on-campus, then this approach to receiving your training might be the best choice for you. Between the online lessons and the clinical training, everything needed to achieve proficiency to work as a medical assistant is provided.

Certification Options for Medical Assistants

As previously mentioned, certification is not a legal mandate, but is a good idea for graduates who want to advance their careers. It will not only help in obtaining a job after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Antelope CA medical employers simply will not hire a medical assistant that has not received accredited formal training or certification. The most popular and possibly the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to take the CMA exam, an applicant must have graduated or will be graduating within 30 days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are available as well, for instance the CMAA and the CCMA that we discussed earlier which are offered by the NHA.

Concerns to Ask Medical Assistant Programs

Questions to ask Antelope CA medical assistant programsBefore you can start evaluating your medical assistant school options, you have to choose which kind of credential you want to earn, and if you would prefer attending classes on campus or online at home. Once those decisions have been made, you can begin the procedure of researching medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, many potential students restrict their searches to the colleges that are nearest to Antelope CA with the lowest tuition. Although location and cost are important qualifications, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you must look at when evaluating schools. To help you with that task, below are some questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant School Accredited? There are several great reasons to make sure that the college you choose is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the training you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the approved organizations for accreditation are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). If your program is not accredited by one of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Additionally, if you plan on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as mentioned previously, a number of potential Antelope CA employers will not hire a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited school.

What is the School’s Passing Percentage? The majority of accredited medical assistant schools create their programs to ready students to pass one or more certification examinations. To begin with, you need to determine which of the certifications the colleges you are considering are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will need to enroll in a program focused on that certification. Second, find out what the program’s passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help assess the quality of a school’s program. Obviously schools with low rates are ones that you will want to avoid.

Which Credentials are Available? As we previously covered, there are generally two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can select a diploma or certificate program and get entry level training in the shortest amount of time, from as little as 6 months, however the average is closer to 1 year. Or you can opt to acquire an Associate Degree and receive a more comprehensive education that will require approximately 2 years to finish in a junior college or trade school. Whatever program you choose to enroll in, confirm that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Offered? Numerous medical assistant colleges offer internship programs with Antelope CA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent method to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also help students establish relationships within the Antelope healthcare community. And as an additional perk, they are an asset on resumes and for job interviews as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Getting that first job may be a difficult task for graduating medical assistant students unless they receive a little help from a job placement program. Confirm that the colleges you are researching provide job placement assistance in the Antelope CA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a school has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it affirms that it has an excellent reputation within the health care community. It also signifies that it has a broad network of employers to help place students in positions.

How Big are the Classrooms? Class size might be an indication of how much individual attention you will get during your training. Small classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer greater access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If convenient, try to monitor a couple of classes before selecting a school to observe what the teaching environment is like and just how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full time, it’s essential that the college you select offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Antelope CA, make sure that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in easier with an online school, but you will also need to schedule any internships or practical training that might be required. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up classes that you may have to miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities.

Enrolling in a Medical Assistant Program near Antelope California?

If you are considering attending a medical assistant school in the Antelope CA area, following is some background information that may be both interesting and useful regarding your future campus location.

Antelope, California

Antelope is a census-designated place in Sacramento County, California, United States located approximately 15 miles (24 km) northeast of downtown Sacramento and 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Roseville. The population was 45,770 at the 2010 census.

The eastern border first follows Roseville Road south from the county line to Butternut Drive. Then the border continues in the same general direction to Antelope Road, so that parcels on Adagio Way, Andante Drive and Katella Way are within Antelope CDP.

The western border has two parts. The first part extends from Antelope Rd northwards toward Elverta Rd along 28th St. The second part extends from Elverta Rd towards the Placer county line, along Dry Creek.

Choose the Ideal Medical Assistant College Antelope CA

Antelope CA medical assistant studentIt’s essential to start your new career on the right foot by choosing a medical assistant school that will provide the right training. Regardless if you’re objective is to launch a career in medical care starting out as a medical assistant or to pursue medical assistance as your lifetime career, you must acquire the appropriate information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges providing training these days that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have discussed in this article, verify that the program you choose is accredited by an acknowledged organization, for example the CAAHEP. This is especially important if you plan on taking the CMA certification exam. You came to this site initially because you had an interest in Medical Assistant Course. But irrespective of the type of credential that you intend to earn or if you have made a decision to attend either an online or on-campus school, be sure to ask the questions we have provided so you can evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by selecting the ideal program you can subsequently begin a gratifying career as a medical assistant in Antelope CA.

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